State Senator Li Arellano Jr (R-Dixon) is calling out Gov. Pritzker after signing his burdensome Transit legislation.
“This was a Chicago bailout written behind closed doors and passed while Illinoisans were asleep,” Sen. Arellano said. “Pritzker and his democratic allies robbed suburban and downstate families today, to cover up years of failure in Chicago.”
Senator Arellano raised several concerns with the transit legislation signed today:
Approximately $550 million per year will be redirected away from funds traditionally used for local roads, bridges, and transportation projects in rural and suburban Illinois and sent to Chicago.
$80 million is diverted directly from the State Road Fund to support Chicago’s transit system.
The legislation authorizes a 45-cent toll increase per vehicle, increasing costs for commuters statewide and disproportionately impacting drivers in districts with longer tollway stretches.
The bill was passed during Veto Session at 3 a.m., limiting public awareness and media scrutiny at the time of the vote.
“This transit legislation was the ultimate betrayal of residents in the 37th District,” Sen. Arellano said. “Families and commuters here drive some of the longest stretches of tollway in the state, meaning they will pay more than almost anyone else. While our communities lose critical funding, Chicago gets another bailout.”
